FAQ
Frequently asked questions
Frequently Asked Questions about Hasta Eco
What is Hasta Eco?
Hasta Eco is a regenerative, organic farming system and a knowledge-driven food initiative. The operation is based on more than ten years of practical field experience in organic and regenerative cultivation. The focus is on: - Soil health and biological activity - Carbon sequestration and climate balance - Companion cropping and intercropping - Nutrient-dense foods - Reduced external inputs Hasta Eco views the soil as a living system – not as a substrate.
Is Hasta Eco organically certified?
Yes. The cultivation is carried out in accordance with the EU's organic regulations and is KRAV-certified where relevant. In addition, Hasta Eco applies its own regenerative framework that goes further than the regulations by focusing on soil processes over time.
What is regenerative organic agriculture?
Regenerative organic farming means not only "doing no harm" but actively working to: - Build the soil microbiome - Increase humus content and carbon sequestration - Improve water retention - Create stable nutrient supply - Reduce the need for fertilizer year by year
Why is soil health crucial?
A healthy soil: - Binds carbon - Retains water - Prevents nutrient leakage - Supplies the plant with micronutrients - Supports the plant's immune system Without soil health, there is no long-term food production.
Climate benefit
Regenerative ecological systems: - Bind 2–3 tonnes of CO₂/ha/year - Reduce nitrogen emissions - Improve water balance
What is companion planting?
Intercropping means growing several plant species together, for example: - Cereals + legumes - Hemp + clover + lucerne Legumes fix nitrogen, cereals provide carbon, and together they continuously feed the soil's microbiome.
Do plants communicate with each other?
Yes. Chemical communication between plants and microorganisms occurs via root exudates and mycorrhizal fungi. This controls: - Nutrient flows - Defense against diseases - Growth and maturation
What is the Earth's microbiome?
The microbiome consists of bacteria, fungi, protozoa, and nematodes. They: - Break down organic matter - Bind carbon in a stable form - Make nutrients plant-available - Protect against pathogens
People's health
Nutrition from living soil: - More micronutrients - Better amino acid profiles - Lower inflammatory load
Can you grow plants without fertilizer?
Yes – in systems with functioning intercropping, catch crops, and active microbiome. Fertilizers are then only used for adjustment, not as a driving force.
Why today's food system is inefficient
High input → low biological value. External costs for climate and health.
Why are consumers needed?
Demand drives systems. Without consumer power – no change.
Why is the C/N balance crucial?
Nitrogen cannot be biologically metabolized without carbon. Fertilization without carbon extracts carbon from the soil's humus → soil degradation. Optimal C/N ratio (10–12): - Leads to carbon sequestration - Provides stable nutrient availability - Results in lower emissions
BioConverse – why?
BioConverse: - Stabilizes organic matter - Reduces ammonia emissions - Controls microbial activity - Improves nitrogen efficiency
Fertilization – when and why?
Fertiliser is used: - To balance - Not to drive The amount is adjusted according to the crop, previous crop, and microbiome status.
Hemp and fertilization
Hemp is sensitive to high microbial activity early on. Often, a preceding crop is sufficient. Any additions are made during chopping.
Frequently Asked Questions about Natural Farming
What does "naturriktigt" mean?
Natural means that food is produced in harmony with nature's own systems instead of working against them. It's about balance in the soil, between plants, microorganisms, animals and humans – and about letting biological processes govern instead of chemical shortcuts.
Is "natural" the same as "organic"?
No, but organic is often a foundation. Nature-right goes beyond regulations and focuses on how systems function over time: soil health, biodiversity, carbon sequestration, and nutrient quality – not just what is permitted or prohibited.
What is meant by living soil?
Living soil contains an active microbiome of bacteria, fungi, and other organisms. These make nutrients available to plants, sequester carbon, retain water, and protect against diseases. Without living soil, there is no long-term sustainable food production.
What is companion planting and why is it important?
Intercropping means that several plant species are grown together. It mimics nature's own systems and provides: more stable nutrient flows, better nitrogen management, increased biodiversity, less need for fertilization. Intercropping is a cornerstone of nature-friendly farming.
Why does Hasta Eco grow without chemical pesticides?
Chemical pesticides, herbicides, and fungicides not only affect pests but also soil life and the plant's natural defenses. When soil biology is weakened, the nutritional value and resilience of food also decrease.
How does artificial fertilizer affect plant nutrition?
Artificial fertilizers can increase yields in the short term but risk: decreasing microbial activity, impairing root development, and creating nutrient imbalance in the plant. Nature-based systems, on the other hand, focus on biological nutrient cycling.
How does the Earth's microbiome affect the food we eat?
The microbiome controls which nutrients the plant can absorb. Rich biological activity often leads to crops with: higher mineral content, better amino acid profiles, and a more natural balance between carbohydrates, protein, and fat. This, in turn, affects human health.
What does climate-positive agriculture mean?
Climate-positive agriculture means that more carbon dioxide is sequestered in the soil than is emitted. This occurs through photosynthesis, root growth, and microbial activity – not through technological offsets.
Why is carbon sequestration important for food production?
Carbon is the basis for soil fertility. When carbon is sequestered in the soil: soil structure improves, water retention capacity increases, and nutrient flows stabilize. This benefits both the climate and food quality.
Why is balance so important in nature?
All living systems seek balance. When this balance is disturbed – in the soil, in a plant's nutrient uptake, or in a human's diet – problems arise. Natural farming aims to restore and maintain this balance instead of compensating for imbalances with external inputs.
Is intercropped food more nutritious than monoculture?
Research and practical experience show that intercropping systems often produce crops with a broader nutritional profile. This is due to better interaction between roots and the microbiome, as well as a more even supply of micronutrients.
Circulated manure provides nutrient-rich food – how?
When nutrients are retained in the soil or returned and biologically bound, plants can absorb them at their own pace. This reduces losses and makes nutrients more available to the crop.
- Higher nutrient content in food
- Stable supply of nitrogen, phosphorus, and micronutrients
- Lower climate emissions and healthier soil
How does a natural diet relate to human health?
Humans are biologically adapted to food from living systems. Naturally produced food: is less processed, contains more natural nutrients, and places less metabolic strain on the body. This can contribute to better long-term health.
What is Hasta HERO and how is it related to natural?
Hasta HERO is the community for nature-based thinking. Change doesn't just happen in agriculture; it also happens through consumer choices, engagement, and knowledge. HERO makes it possible to build systems together.
Why isn't sustainability enough?
Sustainability often means reducing harm. Nature-based and regenerative agriculture, on the other hand, aims to improve systems over time – ecologically, biologically, and socially.
Is nature-based a traditional or modern way of growing?
Both. Naturriktigt is based on ancient biological principles but uses modern knowledge to understand and reinforce them. It is not a step backward – but a step deeper.
Is nature scalable?
Yes, but not through industrialization. Scalability lies in knowledge, systems understanding, and collaboration – not in increased chemical intensity.
As a consumer, how can I contribute?
By: choosing naturally produced food, supporting producers who work regeneratively, spreading knowledge, participating in communities such as Hasta HERO. Demand drives the food system of the future.
Frequently asked questions about Hasta HERO
What is Hasta HERO?
Hasta HERO is a community and engagement program for people who want to be involved in transforming the food system in practice. It is not a traditional loyalty program but a joint commitment where consumers, farmers, and knowledge bearers collaborate for regenerative agriculture, improved health, and a stable climate.
Why did Hasta create the HERO concept?
Hasta has realized that real change cannot be driven by producers alone. Without the active participation of consumers, no structures will change. The HERO concept exists to empower people to contribute, spread knowledge, and create demand for regenerative food.
Who can become a HERO?
Everyone who shares the values concerning soil health, food quality, climate responsibility, and the well-being of future generations. You don't need to be an expert – a willingness to learn, share, and act is enough.
How to become a HERO?
You register via Hasta Eco's website. After registration, you become part of the HEROcommunity and gain access to discounts, knowledge, and the opportunity to influence.
How does the discount system work?
Registered HERO: 10% discount on self-grown products. Recruit a new HERO: 15% discount. Active in social media and knowledge dissemination: 20% discount. The discount is a way for Hasta to show appreciation – not the main purpose of HERO.
What does it mean to be an active HERO?
Being active means sharing knowledge, participating in discussions, spreading content on social media, and helping more people understand the connection between soil, food, and health.
Do you have to be an influencer?
No. The HERO concept is not based on followers but on authenticity. Ordinary people sharing real knowledge are more important than large accounts.
What is HERO Clothing?
HERO Clothing represents clothing that embodies a commitment to regenerative agriculture and the future of food systems. It's a way to show what you stand for.
How does the discount at HERO Clothing work?
HERO: 50% discount. If you recruit a new HERO: 75% discount. The purpose is to support those who carry and spread the message.
What is expected of a HERO?
No coercion. HERO is built on volunteering, community and responsibility. You contribute in the way you can – through conversation, sharing, purchases or participation.
How does HERO contribute to the climate?
By creating demand for regenerative food, the HERO community contributes to increased carbon sequestration, reduced emissions, and healthier soils.
How does HERO contribute to health?
Regenerative food contains more micronutrients and fewer residues linked to inflammation. HERO contributes to a food system that supports long-term health.
Is HERO a closed system?
No. HERO is open, growing, and inclusive. The more people who participate, the stronger the impact.
How does HERO differ from traditional loyalty programs?
HERO is not primarily about consumption but about relationships, knowledge, and systemic change. The discount is secondary – impact is the goal.
What happens if HERO grows?
As the HERO community grows, Hasta can invest more in soil health, research, education, and accessibility. This creates a positive spiral for the entire system.
How do I know that HERO makes a difference?
The difference is visible in the soil, in the crops, in the nutritional content, and in people's understanding. Change takes time – HERO is built for the long term.
How can HERO be developed moving forward?
Future steps may include local HERO groups, training, events, and joint projects. The community will shape the development together with Hasta.
Frequently asked questions about circular cultivation
What does Hasta Eco mean by circular food production?
That all nutrients, biomass, and energy circulate within the system – from soil to plant to human and back to soil – without unnecessary losses.
How does this differ from conventional farming?
In many systems, residual biomass is considered waste. At Hasta Eco, it is a key resource for the next harvest.
What happens to biomass that isn't used for food?
It is returned to the earth through biological processes that preserve carbon, nitrogen, and microbial life instead of releasing them into the atmosphere.
What is the role of fermentation in the system?
Fermentation stabilizes nutrients so they are not lost, while strengthening microbial life before the next growing season.
What is seed coating?
Biological seed treatment with microorganisms that help the plant establish faster and absorb nutrients more efficiently.
Why is it important to prevent gas leaks?
When biomass decomposes improperly, both nutrients and energy are lost as CO₂, methane, and ammonia. This creates a climate impact and impairs the long-term fertility of the soil.
Is circular food production efficient?
Yes – because the system reduces the need for external inputs and builds fertility over time, it becomes both holistically efficient and long-term stable.
Is this scalable?
Yes. The principles are based on the laws of nature and work on both a small and a large scale.